Apparatus for indicating the accuracy of aim



Jan. r4, 1930. E. c. FEY y1,743,201

APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE ACCURACY OF AIM Y Filed May 21, 1928 INVENTOR.

wmf@ /y ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 14, 1930 PATENT oFFlcE EDMUND C. FEY, F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE ACCURACY OF AIM AppIication led May 21,

This invention relates to improvements in devices for improving the aim in the opera'- .tion of firearms, and more particularly to a compact apparatus electrically and mechanically operated whereby the skill of a marksman may be tested to produce a high score in the operation of the apparatus.

The above objects are accomplished without the aid of projectiles, and at the same time 10, causing the actuation of the target aimed at to hit indicating position when accurate aim is registered upon the selected target at the time the apparatus is operated.

i The apparatus is designed tor use in con-4 25 of aim on the exposed target on the firing of the aiming element.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the formfproportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may to without departing from the Spirit or sacriicing any of the advantages of the invention.

To more fully comprehend the invention, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein z- Fig. 1.is a view in broken side elevation partly in section of the preferred embodiment of my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the travelingconveyer illustrating one -unit of the target structures carried thereby, the trames for the other structures being partially illustrated.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectionalview of the 5o mechanism within the aiming element for be resorted7 192s. seriai- No. 279,4co.

controlling the operation of the trigger.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a 'registering device operated by a target in its movement to indicate an accurate aim. v

Fig. 5 is a view in'rear elevation of the registering device. o

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts, 1 represents an aiming element in the Iform o t' a projectless riie or` irearm, having a chamber 2 and trigger 3. The rifle has depended from its chamber2 a tubular arm 2, which is mounted through a universal joint 5 on one end of a case 4 of hollow construction and substantially U-shaped in .longitudinall section. To the lower end of the tubular arm 2 below theuniversal joint 5 is secured the end 5 ot a frame 6 located within the case 4, the free end 6 thereot` lying within the case 4 opposite and below the riiie, as shown in Fig.

1. The frame and aiming element being arranged' as a unitary structure are adapted to move as a unit, thus when' the direction ofthe aim of the aiming element is changed the position ot the end 6 of the frame follows the latter at all times lying below the line of true aim of the rifle. The trigger 3 is fulcrumed,within'the'chamber 2 on the pin 7, the angular extension 3" of the trigger being connected to one endiof a rod 8 extending through the tubular arm 2 and universal joint 5. Bell cranks 9 are fulcrumed at the corners of the frame 6, they being connected to one another for simultaneous movement by rod 12', the first bell crank lbeing connected through the rod 8 with the trigger. 'One of the bell cranks 9 is connected by a -link 13 with'a third bell crank 11 on the face of the free end G of rame'. To the free end of the bell crank 11 is fulcrumed an upstanding pawl 14 normally heldby a spring 16 against the stop 15, the pawl being provided with a beveled end 14. vfA plate 17 is pivotally mounted at 18 on the tace of the free end 6 of trame 6, the lower end of the forward face of said plate being downwardly and rearwardly beveled as at 18. The rear wall'o'f the extreme end of said plate is normally in contact `with the end of pawl 14, the parts j being held in position by a spring 19. The

' and held in plate 18 carries a contact pawl 20 constructed position in the same manner as `the contact pawl 14 is carried by theend of the bell crank 11. An apertured anged bracket 21 is carried by the end 6' of the frame 6, `said bracket supporting a lineally reciprocable plunger 23 disposed in parallel alignment with the aiming element in a plane below the same. The plunger 23 carries an engaging plate 23 mounted to move horiz`ontally therewith, the spring 21 maintaining the plunger normally in its retracted position.

This construction, as far as described, is

very similar in detail to that set forth in mycopending application Serial Number 208,436, and operates in a similar manner,l v that is the plunger 23 is projected forwardl on each complete rearwardmovement of the trigger'3 and the plunger correspondingly moves with a change in irection of aim of the aiming element. Prior to the deposit of a coin or token by a player to release the ap- '1s grounded to the main paratus to enable its operation for five shots.l

.the trigger 3 is retained in a locked position by a pivotally mounted bar 37 within the chamber 2, one end of the bar resting against one .end of a curved stop extending laterall from a peripherally toothed ratchet disk 40 rotatably mounted within the chamber 2. A spring held pawl 42 is carried by the main portion of the trigger 3, its free end engaging the teeth of the disk 43, whereby'on each operation' of the trigger a partial revolution is imparted to the ratchet disk 40. The chamber 2 is provided with a'coin or token slot 45 for receivinga coin or token 46 forlactuating the bar 37, the coin being-guided to .rest thereon by guides 47. The weight of the coin 46 raises the end of the bar to the position shown in dotted lines, the same from the end of stop 39. As the disk 40 rotates on the successive operations of ftrigger 3, the end of the bar 37 rides on the stopy 39 elevating the bar to discharge the coin from the surface thereof, the coin droppingu'nto the tubular arm 2', which in the present instance serves as a coin box. The

vbar 37 remains in its raised position until the end of stop 39 passes beneath the end of the bar enabling the same to assume its normal horizontal position, as indicated in full lines,l

Fig. 3. The contact48 within the chamber 2 is engaged by the bar when' in its raised position. lF rom contact 48 extends the wire 50 of an electric circuit which supplies current from a power source A to a motor hereinafter described. The other wire 51. of the circuit element at 52, this being illustrated in Fig. 3. A,

hen a coin or token is deposited in the slot 45 and the bar 37 is raised, the electrical circuit to the motor is completed through contact 48, the motor moving the targets, as hereinafter described. The operation of the tary bracket carries a pair Fig. 3, releasing gets by the motor continues until the bar 37 of thecase wall 242 is an endless link chain 24 operating over sprockets 25 and 26 rotatably supported on shafts carried by brackets 27. The sprockets 25 and 26 and chain 24 are simultaneously operated by aconventional motor 32 through the medium of a drive belt 30. A plurality of brackets 33 are carried by chain 24 and are disposed at right angles across the same from top to bottom, and each and 3 4 arranged in superimposed relation, the outline of the illustrated targets simulating ducks. The targets 34 are adapted to travel in rear of and for the length of the firiugrange slot 24 through which they are visible, while within the aiming range of the aiming element 1. The lower targets 34', while their associated targets 34- are exposed, are hidden from view by a case wall 24z and Y travel in front ofthe plunger 23. Respective targets 34"carry an arm 35, the hooked ends 35'* of which engage lateral extensions 352 on associated targets 34, and hold the same in vertical position while passing in View of of duplicate targets 34 the operator in rear of the slot 24. A l

weight 36 carried at the rear of each target -34 assists in operating the same from a normally vertical position to that of a horizontal position, this taking place when the lower target 34 is forced toward the case wall 242 by the plunger 23 on accurate aim of the op- I erator on the associated exposed target at the time of operating the trigger 3. The targets after dropping from Vertical to horlzontal position, indicating a hit, re-set themselves to their normal vertical position when conveyed in an inverted position on the lower flight of chain 24.

As assembled in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the device operates in the following manner On the player depositinga token 46 in slot 45, the bar 37 is ra'ised by-the weight of the token closing the circuit operating the motor 32. This starts the targets travelling in endless procession longitudinally of the firing range slot 24'. The operator aims the aiming element 1 at any selected target as the same is exposed to View and whenhe be-` lieves the aim is correct, the trigger 3 is operated. This through the respective elements causes the paWl 20 to engage'plate 23', which in turn operates the plunger 23 .to project .the same forwardly, and as the Iplunger aligns with the same point on the y concealed target 34' as the aiming element 1 1s directed on the exposed target 34, the target 34' will be struck if the aun is accurate. As-

the exposed target 34, and this target is permitted to drop indicating the scoring of a hit. This takes place on each successive operation of the trigger 3, provided the aim is accurate, until a number of operations of the trigger corresponding to the teeth on ratchet 40 have been made. On complete revolution of the member 40, the bar 37 drops by gravity breaking the circuit to the motor 32 and locking the trigger 3 from further operation until such time as a succeeding coin is deposited.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have illustrated a structure wherein either a stationary or movable target differing slightly from that illustrated in Figs. l and 2, operates an indicating device to indicate the number of hits made. This structure illustrated in Fig. 4 comprises duplicate targets and 50', one exposed to the firing range slot 24 and the other lying immediately beneath the same, the targets being'` connected by a member 51 ulcrumed at 52 to a bracket carried by a support 53. The weight of the targets 50 and 50 about balance each other, that of the target 50 being slightly greater so as to normally maintain the target 50 in a vertical position as illustrated. On the operation of the trigger, the same movement is imparted to these elements as in Fig. l, and asX the pin moves forwardly and strikes the corresponding portion of the concealed target 50 as the operator directing the aim of the element l on to the exposed target 50,v the brackets pivot on the fulcrum point 52 to indicate that a hit has y been scored, and to convey tothe player the* idea that a projectile caused the movement of the target 50. The target 50 after pivoting from vertical to horizontal position is immediately restored to vertical position by the counterbalancing effect of the concealed target 50. On ythe downward movement of the target 50, the same engages a trip lever 54 ulcrumed at 55 to a support 56, the end of the lever carries a spring held pivotally mounted pawl 56, which on the downward movement of the forward end of the lever is adapted to engage beneath successive pms 57 on the rear face of an indicating dial 58 carried by the support 56. On its'face the dial contains numerals 59 consecutively arranged about its periphery, and the said numerals are adapted to be exposed one at a time to the view of the operator or player, this view being had as illustrated at 4 and 5 through the firing range slot 24. The 1ndicatingA disk is releasably held in its rotatable position by a pivoted arm 60, which rests by gravity on the upper surface of adjacent pins 57, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In this construction, it will be observed that a number of correct hits can be recorded,

and that the. effectiveness of the apparatus to convey to the player the idea that the target is struck by aprojectile is preserved.

I claim .z-

1. A device for the described purpose comprising an aiming element representing a firearm having a trigger, a plurality of targets of corresponding size and contour positioned one above the other, means for movingsaid targetsacross the aiming range of the aiming element with one exposed to the aim or' the aiming element, said targets cooperating for simultaneous movement, the exposed target indicating accurate aim, a frame extending from the aiming element and movable therewith to a point opposite the lower target, a plunger carried by said frame and movable therewith to aposition opposite the lower target corresponding to the point of aim ofthe aiming element on the upper target, and means connecting the trigger with the plunger for projecting the latter to strike the lower Qtarget, causing a simultaneous movement of both Atargets with the exposed target disappearing from view to indicate a hit on the operating' of the trigger, provided the aim of the aiming element is directed onto the exposed target at the time of operating the trigger;

2. In a device for the described purpose comprising an aiming element representing a firearm. a plurality of pairs of targets of corresponding size and contour movable in an endless path with one target of each pair exposed to the aiming range of the aiming element during the course of travel of said t'argets, means for mounting said targets for movement on their conveying means, a trip plunger associated with the firearm and movable with the same within its aiming range to a position opposite the lower target corresponding to the point of aim of the aiming element of the upper target of that pair, means for operating the plunger to vcause movement of said targets, and means for controlling theA period of movement of said targets.

N3. A. device for the described purpose comprising an aiming element representing a firearm, an endless travelling member, a plurality of pairs of targets of corresponding size and contour carried at spaced 'points thereon, one of said targets of each pair, during a portion of its travel, being exposed to the aiming range oii the aiming element, means for cooperating with one of the targets of each pair during its movement through the aiming range of the aiming element corresponding to the point of aim of the aiming element on the exposed target of the pair and hit, means for normally locking the firearm from operation, and means for simultaneously causing movement of the; endless conveyer on the release of the firearm for operation.

. 4. A device Vfor the described purpose comprising an aiming element representing a fire- 5 arm, an endless travelling member, a plurality of pairs of targets of corresponding size and contour carried at spaced points thereon, one of said targets of each pair during a portion of its travel being exposed to the aiming range of the aiming element, means for cooperating With the other of the targets of each pair during its movement through the aiming range of the aiming element at a point thereon corresponding to the point of aimof .the aiming element on the exposed target of the pair, and operatable on the actuation of the firearm for causing movement of the exposed target of the pair to indicate a hit. 2o 5. A device of the class described, lcomprising an aiming element, a plurality of targets successively movable in and out of aiming range of the aiming element, means for moving said targets, mechanism associated With the.aiming element andfor Icooperating With the targets to trip a selected target to cause its movement from aiming to hit indicating position on an accurate aiming of said aiming element on the selected target and the simultaneous operation of said mechanism, and coin actuated means for releasing said mechanism for a predetermined number of operations and for causing the operation of said target moving means during the period of release of said mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EDMUND C. FEY. 

